Improved mast-hoop



^ magma -WILLIAM T. MADDOCKS, OF NORTHPORT, MAINE.

Letters Patent No.4 87,3105, dated Februa/ry23, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and m'aking part of the same.

To all whom it 'may concern:

'Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. MADDooKs, of Northport, in the county of Lincoln, and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improved Mast-Hoop; and I hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, 'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which is seen a view of my invention, which illustrates its operation.

Hoops, such as are used on fore-and-aft sails, to hold them to the mast, and slide up or down the mast, as the sail is spread or furled, are now generally made of wood, and are furthermore seized or tied to the edge of the sail, or the rope running along the edge thereof. They are so attached to the sail that they cannot be quickly removed, so that in case a hoop breaks, or any accident happens to it, it is a thing requiring some tiine to loosen the old hoopand supply its place with a new one.

It is the purpose of myinvention to provide a ring that c an be quite readily and easily attached to and detached from a sail.

With this view, I make a hoop of a round wire, of metal, or of any useful material, (I do `not claim any particular material,) which hoop is seen at A. The hoop is cut in two parts, as illustrated.

At 1.,Iform a hinge, or joint, so that one half, or part, turns or swings oln a pintle or bolt uniting the two.

Atl, I insert the spring-catch, as there shown. l

The end, c, of the other portion is made hollow, as indicated in the broken-out portion of the drawing', and has therein a tongue, d, attached on the inside of the hollow part.

This tongue is so made that when the two parts B C of the hoop are brought together, the tongue, having a slight head or enlargement on the end, will catch over the spring-catch b, and thus keep the two parts united, to form the hoop.

Pressing on the thumb-p1ece e will release we tongue.

from the catch, and allow the hoop to be opened.

The part his where the hoop is connected to the sail.

Thus it will b'e vseen that the hoop can be readily pnt on and taken off the sail, by simply passing the end of the lopen ring into the loop on the edge of the sail, placing the hoop around the mast, and closing up the ring.

I do not claim a hinge and guard, relative to an eye and clasp, or connecting-contrivance, in a mast-hoop, the entire guard being in one piece, fastened to the movable part of the body, so as to be movable with, and 

